Sammie, the trainer & the therapy dog

Sammie trained a lot of puppies, including Pepper. She helped train some neighborhood puppies - she could always be counted on to do well with that, even as she got old. When we got Pepper as a 3 month old puppy, the lady from the rescue organization told us to stick her right into the same crate with Sammie and Sammie would teach her the rules. Thankfully, the lady also told us that it would sound like they were killing each other, but they wouldn't. She was right. Sammie trained Pepper better than we did and faster!

Sammie was also a wonderful "therapy dog" for senior citizens and children alike. When I was in grad school, she went 1-2 times a week to an adult day care center and let all the people pet her and give her treats. If she couldn't take the treat without touching their hands, she patiently sat back down. They were impressed.

Sammie made several trips to Munchkin's preschool as well and kindly allowed a bunch of squealing kids to love all over her in several rooms. She got to do this a couple of times in recent years.

What can I say? Even as she could barely walk these last few days & she couldn't eat, Sammie still was my obedient, well-trained dog - a true "first dog," I guess! LOL. She pulled herself to her feet and walked outside to "do her business" even this morning before we went to the vet. It was slow and unsteady and sad to watch, but she maintained that last bit of her independence and, frankly, stubbornness to the end. Good for her!

Her whole life...

After Sammie died this morning, Munchkin talked to her for a few more minutes, telling her how she'll miss her and how much she loves her. Before it was all said and done, we'd all cried at least a little (I got choked up as I sang), even the seasoned veterinarian. I asked him if it always gets to him and he said "No. But sometimes when you can see a pet has been well-loved and well-cared for their whole life..." I was honored.

Munchkin has told everyone today that she knew Sammie: "My WHOLE LIFE." This is true - all four sweet, precious years of her life thus far, Munchkin has had Sammie. So has Pepper for all 10 years of her life. But I knew Sammie the longest, even though it was only a third of my life so far ;-).

You know, I've called this blog "Watching my first dog age", but actually Sammie was my DH Andy's first dog too. She broke him in as she did me, my brother, our mother... Thank you, Sammie, for being a wonderful first dog. You are missed already.

She's gone

We went as a family to the vet's office this morning and had Sammie euthanized. I sang Hymn of Promise to her and for us all. We made a paw print memorial stone before we went and took one last photo of the five of us. I cried & cried some more. Munchkin noted it was the first time she'd seen me cry. We're home again now - Munchkin and I & Pepper. Poor Pepper. She looks a bit lost and stressed. More later.